Bologna Bites | An Easy Appetizer!

Easy Bologna Bites

Try this recipe for an easy appetizer your guests (and family) will love!

Prep

1. Slice your ring bologna into thin slices

2. Heat a large skillet to medium heat (if cast-iron) or medium-high for all other pans

3. Coat your pan with a thin layer of olive oil (about 2 TBSP)

Cook

1. When your pan is hot and your bologna is sliced, place it in the bottom of the pan, if possible in a single layer. Sear the bologna, roughly 3 minutes per side. Use a tongs to flip your bologna after 3 minutes or until seared (brown)

2. Flip your bologna and repeat searing on the opposite side, roughly 3 minutes

3. After your bologna is seared add- in 2 tsp tomato sauce, 1 tsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp yellow mustard and stir until coated. Simmer until ingredients create a paste.

4. Serve hot

Ingredients

1. 2 tsp tomato sauce

2. 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

3. 1 tbsp yellow mustard

4. 1 16 oz ring bologna

100% Wool Mattress Pads

100% Wool Mattress Pads

WHY WOOL?

Once a year we shear our wooly sheep, just before lambing season. It is a good health practice and absolutely necessary and humane care for our flock. Without shearing sheep are extremely uncomfortable in Wisconsin’s summer heat and giving them a fresh cut allows them to rid themselves of any debris that they’ve collected on pasture. Since wool is a ‘bi-product’ from our sheep I wanted to make sure to use it instead of letting it go to waste. Hense, wool mattress pads.

WHY BEDDING?

After a farmer friend mentioned bedding I was on the hunt to learn more about how I might take my wool and produce wool bedding. That's when I found a woolen mill in Appleton, Wisconsin. Quickly after visiting the website I knew I'd found my match! Mattress pads made locally by another small family-owned business was all I needed to know to pick up the phone and call. Courtney Woolen Mill has been in operation since the 1800's and has been Courtney family-owned since 1904.

Not only do I want my own wool bedding but I figured you may just want it too.

WHY SHOULD I GET WOOL BEDDING?

Wool is naturally moisture-wicking. This means that it keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. So you can count on a good night sleep counting sheep! Wool is also able to be refreshed when your bedding ages. These mattress pads should last five years, but once they are worn they don't need to go in a landfill. Simply return them to Homestead and we will get it re-carded into a 'new' mattress pad for you at a discounted rate. Your mattress pad can last a lifetime if you let it!

HOW DO I KEEP IT CLEAN?

Do not wash or dry clean your mattress pad. They can be cleaned naturally by placing them in the sun and letting them air out. I recommend you do this every few months to keep it smelling fresh!

our raw wool mattress pad right out of the box

wool adds both cooling and warmth to your bed

A Citrus-Inspired Styled Shoot

A citrus-inspired styled shoot

Citrus has made it’s way into the wedding world and boy am I in love with the soft hues, unique texture and fun color that they bring!

I put together this fun styled shoot at our farm this past summer and I am so excited to share the images with you! Amanda Ly Warren Photography captured my imagination so beautifully in these images and I can’t get enough of her work.

floral inspired by citrus tones

fresh citrus and greens

place setting details

sweetheart table

garden roses and white hydrangea

grapefruit beverage topped with fresh grapefruit and a rosemary garnish

a simple white cake adorned with garden roses and fresh citrus

ring details

Bride’s chair detail

Success from the field

Success From the Field

Flowers By Season

Flowers by Season

Sticking with flowers in-season will not only provide you the best blooms available for your wedding day, it will also help you stretch your floral dollars further.

Below is a list of seasonal blooms to get you started when talking with your florist.

But as always, be sure to ask your florist what flowers might be a good seasonal choice for your wedding day!

A Wedding at Blackhawk Country Club

A fall wedding at Blackhawk Country Club

Polly and Bobby tied the knot on the big lawn at Blackhawk Country Club in Madison, Wisconsin. They celebrated amongst the autumn leaves of October.

The celebrated with an outdoor ceremony on the lawn overlooking the lake.

The tables were graced with sweet centerpieces with lots of autumn’s most beautiful blooms.

The head table featured a long eucalyptus garland.

Photos by SV Photography

A Wedding at Sugarland Barn, Mazomanie

A Wedding at Sugarland Barn

Casey and Emily celebrated their wedding under the oak tree at Sugarland Barn in Mazomanie, Wisconsin. Blush, white and green inspired their wedding flowers and can I just say, these bridesmaid dresses are so good!

Peony bouquets featuring blush and white peonies and eucalyptus greens

Traditional Ranunculus Boutonnieres

Elevated floral centerpieces featuring peonies, stock and eucalyptus greens

A Wedding in the Clouds

A wedding in the clouds

Married in Lutsen, Minnesota this was an extra special wedding for me as it was the wedding of two of our closest friends. Married in the clouds at a ski-resort they take the cake for most unique location that fit them so perfectly.

Photos by Kristen Barbara Photography

Photos by Kristen Barbara Photography

Two Ingredients, One Sustainable Farm

Don’t believe the lie

Man, it honestly wasn’t until I started farming that I realized what a huge lie I was believing and pushing me into a place I never really wanted to be in my life.

It was the lie that I had to diversify, raise and sell everything, be a farmer with beef, lamb, chickens, eggs, and pigs, oh and to sell my jam preserves on the ‘side’.

I’m just going to be real frank here, what a load of manure. The honest truth is that nobody can do all of those things successfully on their own. I don’t care what super-power you possess the fact of the matter is, you have 24 hours a day and wouldn’t you like to spend some of it sleeping?

When I started my farm in 2015 I thought someday I’d be like everyone else. I’d be raising all the things, that I’d ONLY be able to make a sustainable income IF I was raising and selling all the meats and taking advantage of any income source I found on the internet for small farms. What I didn’t realize then that I know now is that sure, I might be able to slap a label on any product, perhaps even SELL that product. BUT, I wouldn’t be making a sustainable living and I certainly wouldn’t be sleeping at night. At the end of the day my customers would suffer from my lack of focus, my family time would be non-existent and frankly, my farm would be a hot mess.

Instead, I have happy customers that I am able to retain because I have time to do customer service. I have time to send emails, to do Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. I am able to create new and exciting ways of offering my products. And it isn’t because I’m doing more, in fact it is because I’m doing LESS.

Yep, I raise sheep and cattle, that’s it and you know what, I make a sustainable income doing it. Now, what they tell you about never being rich if you’re a farmer, that is 100% truth. But, if you want to be around for a few years, or for a generation and beyond, you’re going to need to think about what you can ACTUALLY do in a day. Twenty-four hours seems like a lot of time until the reality of farming sinks in and you realize that raising a single animal can be a chore.

So, I encourage you, friend, to think critically about what you want your life farming to look like. Do you want to be sustainable financially, do you want to spend time with your kids, perhaps you want more time with your spouse. Whatever life you’re choosing to run alongside the farm choose it, don’t let your farm run you.

OK, now I’m getting off my soapbox. If you want more resources for how and why I started my farm, here are a few links you might find helpful.

Floral | Minimalistic Wedding Inspiration

Minimalistic Wedding Inspiration

This was such a fun styled shoot to put together on the farm. I see minimalism as not the lack of detail, but instead intentional decisions that create a beautiful, elegant look without distraction. It is beautiful, it is modern and it works beautifully indoors and out.

Here are some photos from my styled shoot with Larissa Marie Photography

Elegant fern greenery adds height to the center of the table.

Crisp white linens help the simple greenery stand out and offer a beautiful option for the more modern bride.

Simple and elegant touches include ferns on each guest plate.

Candles transition the modern table from day into evening, offering a classic look to the night tablescape.

Homestead | 3 Years on the Farm

3 Years on the Farm

It seems like forever ago that we signed on the dotted line and purchased our farm. It’s been a very busy first few years as we’ve tackled seemingly endless projects. This farm is feeling more and more like home with each passing season and I must admit that it is starting to look like we’d hoped.

This last year we had a fire lit underneath us once again (I’m noticing a pattern) as we anticipated the arrival of our first daughter. It seemed that ‘everything’ had to get done before I put everything on hold. We replaced fencing in the winter lots, built feed bunks, sided the barn (partially), did our landscaping, filled another dumpster and did a few minor indoor projects.

It was fun, it was exhausting but in the end we’re happy with what year 3 held for us. We anticipate year 4 will finally be a bit slower, but I think we’ve said that every year….

Where to put flowers for the most guest impact

Photo by Wild Elegance Photography

Where to put flowers for the most guest impact

If you’re like most brides you want to make sure you're getting the biggest impact out of your wedding flowers. You want flowers your guests will notice and if you’re like me, fawn over and talk about on their ride home.

So, as a floral professional and past maid-of-honor in four weddings, here is where I think your flowers will make the most impact on your guests.

Ceremony Arches

As your guests arrive and take their seat for the biggest moment of your life, your I do’s, creating an impact piece like a floral arch or floral spray will be something your guests WILL notice. Before you and your girls are standing up there with your beautiful blooms, you’ll wow your guests and invite them to anticipate the moment to come. A high-impact piece at the front of your ceremony space will make your day extra special to your guests.

Centerpieces

This is a fairly obvious one, but your guests will spend 75% of their time at the table. Meaning, your investment here will be making a great impact to the feel of your wedding. If you’re going for impact here is the best place you can invest your bloom dollars. From your guest’s perspective, these flowers are for them, it adds a ‘feel’ to your wedding that can honestly not be offered in blooms anywhere else. For an even bigger impact vary your tables between 2-3 types of centerpieces so that as your guests gaze around the room their eyes are dancing.

Blooms in the Ladies Room

This is a little extra spend that I believe makes a big statement. Your lady-friends will be spending a fair amount of time touching up their makeup throughout the night, fixing their hair and socializing in well, the restroom. You know it’s true. Adding a little posy bouquet by the basket of hairspray will be something that will delight your guests. I’d never thought it would be a place to spend a little cash but dang-it girl if I don’t notice and totally appreciate it when this detail is added. Talk about next-level guest experiences. Surprise is certain to make an impact.

Extra Details

Obviously, there are a lot of places you can invest in your blooms, but if we can focus directly on your guest experience these are certainly the top areas where you can delight your guests.

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Funding your farm start-up

Photo by Wild Mulberry Photography (The 3:5 Collective)

Funding Your Farm Start-Up

You have dreams of owning a farm, big or small. You desire a deeper connection with your food that only growing it yourself will bring.

BUT, as you dig into the weeds of purchasing and operating your farm you’re left feeling: overwhelmed, defeated, and a little sticker shocked. Yep, I feel you. I felt all of those things (and some) when I set out to start a farm, from scratch, right after graduating college (HELLO COLLEGE DEBT).

So, today I want to share with you a few resources I’ve used to help me bring my farm dreams to reality. My hope is a few of these might work to help bring your farm dreams to life.

Leasing Land

Land is the biggest hurdle to starting a farm, hands down. It doesn’t seem to matter if you’re looking for 5, or 50 acres to start, land doesn’t come cheap and is a big leap to take especially if you’re young. I was twenty-three, fresh out of college with a mound of student debt, a brand new mortgage and had just spent my savings on a wedding. So, when I decided it was now, or never, that I started my farm I had to get very creative on accessing land I just simply couldn’t afford.

In my case, I was able to lease ten acres of land from my parents. Thanks to them I was able to do this step a bit easier than it might be for you. HOWEVER, leasing land is more popular than you might think. It is certainly more popular that I ever dreamed it was. I was under the impression that farmers ‘always’ owned their land. WRONG.

My parents (like many people do) were leasing their tillable land (corn/soybean) to a crop farmer who was running thousands of acres. Their farmer happened to own 500 acres of the 10,000 ACRES he cropped. He isn’t alone in the leasing world. Much like many crop farmers lease, many livestock producers are also seeing the benefits of leasing land. Here’s a list of pros vs. cons. I see in leasing land.

So, maybe you aren’t starting with the same financial burden as I was. Maybe you have the ability to purchase your own land. If that’s you, YIPPEE! My experience when we purchased our farm is that funding is trickier than purchasing a single family home. Even a single-family home in the country. SO, if you’re looking at a larger farm (not a homestead you’re looking to do on a piece of land in the country), you’ll need to talk to the right banker. IF, you’re local Compeer Financial has lending programs for farm purchases. My farm is actually purchased under a business loan vs a home mortgage. So, be sure to do your research.

If you’re looking at leasing land, reach out to your local Extension office, your USDA office. Agencies like this are a good place to start when trying to find a farmer looking to lease. If you know someone with crop land, or pasture land, that you know isn’t using it themselves, a simple stop-by to ask might be a good option for you. I know farmers that even 10+ years in lease their land. It is a very econimical way to get started, and can lead to beautiful relationships for future purchase of the land.

NRCS Funding

This one has been the biggest game-changer for me. As a grazer I wanted to take tillable acerage and turn it into productive pastures that would last, well forever. The EQUIP program through Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) helped me do just that, and more.

On my farm I had 20 acres of tillable (once corn and soybean rotation) that I wanted to graze. Through the EQUIP program I was able to fund seeding the pasture AND putting in a perimeter fence. This funding was able to jumpstart my farm in a big way. Again, I was starting with a mound of student debt and now a brand new (larger) mortgage. This funding put me 5+ years ahead of the schedule I would have been in if I had to save and pay cash.

This funding is NOT exclusive to OWNING your land either. Yep, with a lease contract you can get your hands on some funding as well. That is AWESOME news.

The best way to find out what programs work for you, for leased or owned land, is to contact your local office. Your county likely has it’s own office, if you’re really rural you might have a group of counties under the same NRCS office. Just a simple Google search will get you there.

Auctions, USED and Craigslist

In my first 3+ years I didn’t own a single thing for my farm that was new other than my barbwire fence. The t-posts, stock tanks, gates, buckets and so on I’d picked up second hand. Let’s be honest here, ALL of these things are perfect items to find used and will save you loads of money in start-up. I’ve lost track of my beginning numbers (#savethisforfuturereference) but to my best guess I saved 75% of the start-up costs for my farm just by buying used items. THAT’S a lot of savings for items that still had a lot of life left in them. After purchasing our forever farm (instead of leasing) I invested in some newer items because our goal was to have a ‘polished’ look. BUT, if your goal is simply to raise good food yourself, you might NEVER need to purchase a new gate/post/pitchfork.

As you get started and don’t have a market yet for your product (if this is your end-goal) I strongly urge you to look for used items. You can always make all your gates match someday if you’d like. But those $20 gates I started with brand new were $180 EACh, so, if you’re looking for a way to cut costs used is going to be a game-changer.

where there’s a will, there’s a way

Honestly this is what it is going to come down to. If you want to farm, you’ll find a way to do it. Leased, owned, big or small. I believe that we’ll do things we never dreamed we would just by deciding. When I started with two steers, 10 acres and not more than $500 to my farming name, with no customers (no idea really) I found a way to do it because it’s all I wanted. It wasn’t as glamorous as I’d imagined, but it was a step in the right direction. Maybe you’re like me with big dreams of a lush, beautiful farm that you can host events at. You have to start somewhere, somewhere scrappy, somewhere scary, somewhere ‘less than’ you wanted it to be.

But, the beauty is that by taking a single step you’re already headed in the right direction.

So, think outside the box, call your grandpa about leasing land. Reach out to people in your community to see if they know someone who’d lease to you. We all start somewhere, just start.

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The Top Spring Wedding Flowers

The best seasonal flowers for Spring Brides

Are you planning a beautiful spring wedding? Congrats!

Here are a few of the best seasonal blooms that will be sure to catch the attention of your guests!

Rananculus

This hardy bloom comes in a wide range of colors from white to burgundy and is never a disappointment! They are beautiful in every capacity and hold up extremely well out of water.

Anemone

This classic spring bloom catches the attention of everyone. While it is most common in the stunning white with a black center, it also comes in a variety of purples.

Garden Rose

This classic - ever beautiful - garden rose is a great choice for someone who wants a traditional flare, without a dated look. Garden roses are fragrant and are stunning in centerpieces! They do not hold up as well in bouquets and often are covered in thorns.

Peony

Probably the most sought-after bloom for spring weddings is the Peony. They are stunningly fragrant and are perfect for bouquets and centerpieces.

All photographs by Larissa Marie Photography

How to Spark Joy with Your Flowers AFTER Your Wedding Day

How to Spark Joy with Your Flowers AFTER Your Wedding Day

You’ve invested in some incredibly gorgeous blooms to make your wedding day special. Does it make you sad to think they could end up in the dumpster out in the back of your venue after your event? Well, those flowers certainly don’t have to! Here are a few simple ways to get more out of your investment in flowers when the lights turn off and you head off to enjoy wedded bliss….

How to Decide What Style Centerpiece Fits Your Venue and Vision

Photos by Larissa Marie Photography

How to Decide What Style Centerpiece Fits Your Venue and Floral Vision

Simple greens, collections of buds, compotes or elevated floral pieces, there are a lot of options to consider when choosing what’s right for your event.

So, what should you consider when making the decisions on what centerpieces fit you best? Here’s what these different style options say about you and your wedding.

Styles and what they say about you

Greens + Candles

This one’s for the bride who wants simple, understated and laid back vibes for her big day. There is simply nothing stuffy about some simple greens down the center of the table or mixed in with some candles. This option definitely doesn’t say ‘cheap’, it just says ‘I want you to feel at home and kick back.’

This option is great for more casual settings like barn venues and lofts. It is understated but beautifully simple and sometimes is the perfect option if you want to say - kick back and relax.

Collections of Buds

This one’s for the bride who wants vintage vibes for her wedding day. A collection of petite bottles with single sprigs adds an eclectic and vintage feel to your wedding. It says ‘hey, we value timeless treasures and understated beauty’. It is sure to get your guests settled into a night with a touch of ‘back home’ comforts.

This option is great for more casual settings like barn venues, outdoor weddings and lofts. It is eclectic and is the perfect option if you want to say - love feels like home.

Compotes

This one’s for the bride who wants something that makes a statement. A footed compote/vase filled with some of the season’s finest blooms adds a more traditional touch to your wedding day. It says ‘this day is special and I’m so glad you think so too'.’ There is simply nothing more timeless an inviting than a compote.

This option is great for a more formal or traditional event. It fits many venues but it’s true home lies in country clubs and urban venues. It is the most traditional centerpiece and is the perfect option if you want to say - I’ve invited you here to witness something special.

Elevated Floral

This one’s for the brides who want something that catches and commands attention. Elevated centerpieces draw the eye through the venue even when everyone’s seated. It says ‘hey, look at me, aren’t I stunning?’ These centerpieces are simply ones that cannot be ignored and for good reason, they ARE stunning!

This option is great for urban venues, lofts and is also a great option for vaulted venues like barns. This option is for you if you want to say - you’re here because this day is everything to us.

Mixing your centerpieces

I often suggest mixing your centerpieces, particularly if you have multiple styles of tables. Usually a 50/50 split is a good way to bring multiple vibes and more interest to your space. Here is how I would mix them for an event.

Rustic Barn + Loft Venues

Here I’d recommend doing a mix of greenery with candles and collections of buds and candles. Designing the space with a near even mix will make your space more exciting for the eye and will keep things understated while adding some bloom beauty for photographs.

If you have a mix of farmhouse tables and rounds mixing and matching simple greens with compotes or elevated pieces will add interest. Elevated pieces are great to fill the ‘open space’ often found in these lofted venues. Your elevated pieces could be simple greens as well if you’re still looking for a laid-back vibe.

Country Club + Urban Venues

Country clubs and urban venues often offer round tables for your guests. You can do a couple of mixed options here depending on your vibe or what you’d like to invest in your flowers.

I’d recommend doing a mix of compotes and greens around candles if you’d like to add beauty and dynamic eye appeal with less of an investment. The candles and greens offer a laid back vibe while the compotes continue to make your event feel extra special and more timeless. Mix them together and they are simple yet memorable.

I’d recommend doing a mix of compotes and elevated pieces if you’re looking to wow your guests. By doing a 50/50 mix of both you’ll be adding tremendous visual appeal and balance to your space. When you mix them your guests will surely remember your flowers.

Just like every detail you’re including in your special day your centerpiece will speak to your vision and the vibe you want your guests to lean into.

Find a florist that understands your vision and can help you craft the perfect pairing of centerpieces for you. By adding floral touches your venue will be transformed and they will certainly be a memorable piece of your wedding day!

about the author

Brit is a florist serving Madison, Wisconsin’s brides. She loves working with a few brides each year to craft their dream wedding flowers. She believes great floral design is in the details.

What flowers should you invest in? Questions to ask yourself to make the difficult decisions easier

Photo By Wild Elegance Photography

What flowers should you invest in?

Questions to ask yourself to make the difficult decisions easier

In the world of weddings is there really a go-to answer as far as where you should spend your money, or how much you should invest in specific items? No, not really. It is truly a very personal decision and one that is going to be tied to what matters to you.

Your investments will be specific to what you want your day to look like, what you want your guest experience to be, and what details are a must-have or ones you can live without. Flowers might not be a huge priority, or they might be THE priority.

As a full believer that your wedding flowers are a detail your guests will notice, and something you’ll be swooning over in your wedding photos for years to come, here’s a few questions to ask yourself to make your floral-decisions a little bit easier.

I’ve broken them down by ‘type’ to keep things a little more organized.

personal flowers

These include items like

• Bridal bouquet

• Bridesmaid bouquets

• Groom boutineers

• Groomsman boutineers

• Items for Fathers, Mothers and Grandparents

• Items for Ushers, Officiants

• Flower girls and Ring Bearers

Personals are really any floral that will be worn or carried by someone in your wedding.

I see brides make choices that are all over the map on these personal items. My general rule and guidance on this is, if you want to stick to a more traditional approach everyone in your party and actively participating in your wedding would get them. However, if you’re wanting to scratch items off your list that won’t have a big effect on your pictures, memories and are least likely to ‘offend’ boutineers are an easy thing to let go. Let’s face it, your groomsmen won’t mind the fuss of putting them on and your dad has never been real keen on the ‘flower thing’ anyway. So, if you want to cut this is where I’d ask how important these items are to the look and feel of your wedding day. Maybe you just make a special one for your hubby-to-be and call it a day.

If you are worried that this decision could offend anyone, just ask! You might just be surprised when Grandma says she doesn’t want a big old flower pinned to her new dress and that simple ask could save you $30+ that you can invest elsewhere..

guest experience

Here is where it really comes down to how you want your event to feel. Flowers are simply items that can wow, or softly add a touch of understated beauty.

Ceremony Decor

That beautiful arch that your guests see when they walk into your ceremony space, that’s where I’d focus my attention. When your guests take a seat the front is where their focus would be, make it catch their attention!

Flowers along your aisle can be simple or another place for a wow factor if you’re looking to really impress. Every guest will walk down your center aisle, as will you, so if you want a stunning photo of you walking arm and arm with someone special before AND after your ‘I do’s’ then aisle decor is a beautiful place for an investment.

My general rule is this, if you want to make a lasting impression without breaking the bank focus your investment on the ‘front of house’. If you want to blow your guests away aisle decor and ‘back of house’ florals will certainly get noticed. Those front of house items will also catch the frame in your most photographed moment, your first kiss.

Centerpieces

Simple bottles with sprigs, light greenery down your tables, or towering centerpieces will have dramatically different effects on how your guests remember your wedding. Think about the weddings you’ve been to. Some you might not remember the centerpieces at all, some you might have been thinking ‘how much did she spend on that?!’ Honestly your guests will notice your centerpieces more than anything else, it is ultimately where they spend most of their time at your wedding. If you tend to be more conservative then a simple approach to have a few blooms per table is perfect. If you want a wow factor your tables are certainly the spot to make a lasting impression.

If you want the wow, I think it is good to mix and match your tables a bit, some large centerpieces and some a little more understated. This adds intrigue and creates an even bigger impact as it balances the visual presence rather than overwhelming it.

THE Head table

We’re talking about THE head table, or the sweetheart table if that’s more your style. The table that everyone, yes everyone is staring at all night when they’re wildly clinking their glasses at you.

Utilizing some of your ceremony decor might be your style here. Those bridesmaid bouquets, the sprays on your ceremony arch. Perhaps these items could be used on your head table as well.

OR

Perhaps you want a showstopping floral garland or a floral backdrop that gets all the heart eyes.

Reception Decor

Ok, ok I know centerpieces and the head table are technically reception florals, but they really are in a league of their own if you ask me. Reception florals might look like:

• Welcome Signs

• Guest Tables

• Dessert Tables

• Coffee Stations

• The Bar

• Photobooths

• Your cake

• The ladies room (yep, you know what I’m talking about)

Here is one place I think you can skip almost entirely if you’re looking for ways to pair it down a bit. That being said, if you’re into the details these are places where your guests will be directly interacting throughout the evening and again, they will notice the extra details you provide.

So, if you’re to this point and you’re thinking to yourself, ah I’m good. These details are almost a sure thing to move past. However, if you’re super focused on providing an exceptional guest experience here’s my take.

The details like flowers on your cake, garlands on your welcome signs, backdrops for your photo booth, posies in the women’s bathroom (because you KNOW the ladies are spending time sprucing up their makeup in there throughout the night), these are things that will make your guests think, wow, she’s thought of EVERYTHING. If that’s important to you, then lady, these are the items that will make them sing.

So, after all that you’ve made it to this point (thanks for sticking with me, you earned yourself another glass of wine) ultimately you’re left with these questions….

What am I after as far as my guest experience?

Are you after simple, conservative florals that make your event sweeter?

Are you after a few wow moments splashed with a few extra details?

Are you after floral experiences everywhere your guests look?

Or, do you want to go ALL in and create wow factors throughout?

What matters most to me?

Some incredible showstoppers that will live on forever in my photos?

A complete guest experience where the flowers are THE detail.

Where is my budget best spent?

Ultimately everything in life comes down to the numbers. If you find the right florist they’ll help you navigate the numbers and will help you make floral decisions that will compliment your vision and your budget. But be realistic about what you’re willing to compromise and what you simply are not BEFORE you meet with them.

Alright lady, I wish you all the BEST in your wedding planning and I hope this helped you in some way to make those tough floral decisions a little bit easier.

Go pour yourself some wine.

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A Prevailing Winds Lodge Wedding

A Prevailing Winds Lodge Wedding, Wisconsin

Fun, colorful and full of life, that’s how I would describe Rachel and Matt’s wedding day. Tucked on a beautiful piece of land Prevailing Winds Lodge hosts a beautiful spot for a truly Wisconsin wedding.

From the moment I met Rachel I could tell her wedding day was going to be full of her bright, friendly personality, and that it was. Bright pink peonies, vibrant colors and a theme of lemons throughout made this a fun floral feast to create. Set atop a ridge her reception tent was full of beautiful blues to compliment her floral designs and the day was beautifully captured by the tremendously talented Amanda Ly Warren Photography.

Cheers Rachel, you were truly a joy to flower for!

Bright fuschia peonies dance on the cake and amoungst the arrangements and are the centerpiece bloom of the wedding day.

A beautiful outdoor ceremony space among the trees makes this Wisconsin wedding venue special.

Rachel’s bridal bouquet was full of color, hot fushia peonies, lemon yellow accents and mint greens.

Photography | Amanda Ly Warren Photography

Venue | Prevailing Winds Lodge